Study Notes on the Ku Klux Klan Formation and Principles, 1868

Organization of the Ku Klux Klan (1868)

Formation and Context

  • Background:

    • The Ku Klux Klan (KKK) was established as a reaction against Reconstruction by white Southerners.

    • Founded in March 1866 in Pulaski, Tennessee, it was the most significant and widespread of secret, terrorist organizations.

    • The KKK aimed to use force and intimidation to reverse Reconstruction policies.

    • The organization collaborated covertly with local white officials to undermine African Americans' voting rights and suppress their newly acquired freedoms.

Appellation

  • The organization refers to itself in formal terms as **"the Order of the **"*.

Creed

  • Core Beliefs:

    • Members express reverence for the Divine Being, acknowledging its sovereignty and providence.

    • Affirm allegiance to the United States Government, recognizing the supremacy of the Constitution and its laws, as well as the Union of States.

Character and Objects of the Order

  • Principles: The KKK is characterized by ideals that embody:

    • Chivalry: Noble conduct and behavior.

    • Humanity: Compassion towards others.

    • Patriotism: Love and devotion to one’s nation.

  • Objectives: The KKK has several specific aims:

    1. Protection of the Weak:

    • To safeguard the defenseless against the lawless and violent.

    • To assist the injured, the oppressed, and notably, the widows and orphans of Confederate soldiers.

    1. Defend the Constitution:

    • To uphold and protect the Constitution of the United States and all laws made in accordance with it.

    • To protect the States and their populations from all forms of invasion.

    1. Aid in Law Enforcement:

    • To support the execution of constitutional laws and protect citizens from unlawful seizures.

    • To ensure trials occur by peers in line with the law.

Titles and Structure of the Organization

  • Hierarchy of Officers:

    • Grand Wizard of the Empire (leader) and his ten Genii.

    • Grand Dragon of the Realm and his eight Hydras.

    • Grand Titan of the Dominion and his six Furies.

    • Grand Giant of the Province and his four Goblins.

    • Grand Cyclops of the Den and his two Night Hawks.

    • Additional titles including: Grand Magi, Grand Monk, Grand Scribe, Grand Exchequer, Grand Turk, Grand Sentinel.

  • Collective Terms:

    • Members collectively referred to as Ghouls.

Territory and Its Divisions

  • Jurisdiction:

    • The Order’s territory covers several Southern states including:

    • Maryland, Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, Florida, Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana, Texas, Arkansas, Missouri, Kentucky, and Tennessee.

    • These states together are termed as the Empire.

  • Administrative Divisions:

    • Divided into four departments:

    1. Realm: Corresponds to state boundaries.

    2. Dominion: Divided by counties assigned by the Grand Dragons to the Grand Titan.

    3. Province: Represents counties, with provisions for Grand Titans to assign multiple Grand Giants.

    4. Den: Comprises specific parts of Provinces as designated by the Grand Giant to the Grand Cyclops.

Membership Interrogations

  • Application Questions: Potential members are asked a series of specific questions including:

    1. Previous application or expulsion from the KKK.

    2. Current or past membership in the Radical Republican party or groups such as the "Loyal League" and "Grand Army of the Republic".

    3. Opposition to principles of the Radical party, Loyal League, or Grand Army of the Republic.

    4. Service in the Federal army during the Civil War against the South.

    5. Stance against Negro equality, both social and political.

    6. Support for a white man's government.

    7. Advocacy for Constitutional liberty and equitable laws over violence and oppression.

    8. Maintenance of Constitutional rights for Southerners.

    9. Support for the re-enfranchisement and emancipation of white Southerners.

    10. Belief in the inalienable right of self-preservation against arbitrary power.

Secrecy and Penalties

  • The Order emphasizes maintaining absolute secrecy concerning all aspects related to its operations.

  • Any member disclosing or betraying the secrets faces severe consequences, which are described as the extreme penalty of the law.